Guide to giving back during the holidays

By Tessa Duvall | tduvall@mrt.com

Published 4:02 pm, Friday, November 21, 2014

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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FILE - John Crooks, left, and Cindy Rice, with the West Texas Food Bank, sort through boxes of non-perishable items collected during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, May 14 at the U.S. Post Office on Veterans Airpark Lane. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram less

FILE - John Crooks, left, and Cindy Rice, with the West Texas Food Bank, sort through boxes of non-perishable items collected during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, May 14 at the U.S. Post Office on Veterans ... more

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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People line up to get their first serving of hotdogs, french-fries and soup as well as enjoy a break from the cold weather Wednesday at Breaking Bread. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

People line up to get their first serving of hotdogs, french-fries and soup as well as enjoy a break from the cold weather Wednesday at Breaking Bread. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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Alison King with United Way helps Vilma Renteria pick out her books Monday during the kickoff at Casa de Amigos of the summer reading program Club Read. Children at Casa all received their own books to read at Casa and take home to keep at the end of the summer. Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram less

Alison King with United Way helps Vilma Renteria pick out her books Monday during the kickoff at Casa de Amigos of the summer reading program Club Read. Children at Casa all received their own books to read at ... more

Photo: Tim Fischer

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The United Way of Midland announced a commitment of $1 million to its Transitional Housing Initiative Thursday afternoon. Once transitional housing is established in Midland, it will be administered by Family Promise of Midland, who will provide families with intensive, specialized case-management during their stay. On average, families stay in transitional housing for 10 months, though the term can be used to describe a stay from 90 days to two years.(File Photo) Heather Hoeckendorf and her two daughters Gabriella, 5, left, and Serenity, 3, prepare to settle in room Friday evening at Grace Lutheran Church. Hoeckendorf and her two daughters are the first family to be helped through the Midland less

The United Way of Midland announced a commitment of $1 million to its Transitional Housing Initiative Thursday afternoon. Once transitional housing is established in Midland, it will be administered by Family ... more

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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In this file photo, Salvation Army of Midland bell-ringer Vickie McGrew accepts a donation from Laura Worsham, age 6, at Hobby Lobby on Thursday. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

In this file photo, Salvation Army of Midland bell-ringer Vickie McGrew accepts a donation from Laura Worsham, age 6, at Hobby Lobby on Thursday. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

The holiday season for many Midlanders means out-of-town trips to reunite with family around a dinner table filled with Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham.

But for the less fortunate in the community and the nonprofit organizations that serve them, the holidays can be a time of great need.

Area organizations say they’re in need of volunteers, food and monetary donations. Here’s how you can help:

Salvation Army

The local Salvation Army needs help manning its iconic red kettles this holiday season.

Maj. Tex Ellis of the Salvation Army in Midland said the organization will take however many people are interested in volunteering as bell ringers for donation kettles.

There are 12 kettle locations around town, which are manned six days a week from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. until Christmas Eve, Ellis said.

The kettles raise money to support efforts to provide toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round, according to the Salvation Army’s website.

Anyone interested in being a bell ringer can call the Salvation Army at 683-3614 or stop by the organization’s building at 300 S. Baird St. Ellis said the hours for bell ringers are flexible to suit volunteers’ needs.

Ellis said the Salvation Army also collects toy donations during the holiday season. Toys can be dropped off at the Salvation Army.

During the winter, the Salvation Army needs blankets, coats and pillows, and hygiene items such as soap, shampoo and toothbrushes are always a need for the shelter, he said.

For more information about being a Salvation Army volunteer, visit salvationarmyusa.org/usn/volunteer.

Potential donors can also donate online at onlineredkettle.org.

Midland YMCA

The Midland YMCA also needs support for its Adopt a Child program that provides toys Christmas toys for 323 area kids in need.

Christine Bearden, associate executive director, said the goal is $5,000 raised by Dec. 6. About $900 had been raised as of Wednesday, she said.

Donations can be made at the YMCA, 800 N. Big Spring St.

The YMCA Princess Program, a father-daughter program, provided about 350 meals for those in need on Thanksgiving, Bearden said.

West Texas Food Bank

The West Texas Food Bank, 1008 E. Second St. in Odessa, needs volunteers to help organize food donations. The food bank will be open on Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday 8 a.m. until noon.

Rosie Simmons, volunteer coordinator, said volunteers are welcome to show up, sign in and fill out an application before sorting foods and making sure items aren’t damaged, expired or tampered with. Volunteers are welcome to bring their kids, as long as they are supervised by an adult.

The food bank will be closed Thursday and Friday to allow employees to spend time with their families for Thanksgiving.

Volunteers are needed 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and Dec. 17 to help stuff bags for the Food 2 Kids program, which provides meals for kids who may not eat when out of school. The sorting takes place at 202 S. Lincoln St. in Odessa.

The West Texas Food Bank’s regular hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individuals and groups of volunteers, monetary donations and canned goods are always needed, Simmons said. $1 can provide four meals, she said.

Anyone interested in learning more about getting involved can call the food bank at 580-6333 or visit its website at wtxfoodbank.org.

Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen

Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen in Midland, 410 E. Florida Ave., will serve its Thanksgiving meal Monday and regular meals will also be served Tuesday and Wednesday. All meals are served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The kitchen averages between 100 and 130 guests per night.

Following the Wednesday meal, Breaking Bread will provide 120 full Thanksgiving dinners for patrons to take home, Executive Director Trisha Weatherford said.

The Christmas meal will be served 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Though Breaking Bread will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 2, it will provide those in need with 10 days worth of gift cards to local restaurants. Weatherford said the kitchen has raised about $4,000 of its $7,100 goal, and monetary donations are needed.

Anyone interested in donating or volunteering to serve a meal can contact Weatherford at trishaweatherford@live.com or visit breakingbreadkitchen.org. Volunteering lasts from about 5 to 7 p.m. including preparation and clean-up after the meal.

Casa de Amigos

Judith Motyka, community development manager at Casa de Amigos, said the organization needs help with several of its Christmas programs.

Casa de Amigos is currently about $1,000 short of its goal for the Friends of Hope program that provides Target gift cards to buy Christmas gifts for area low-income families. The organization hopes to provide $250 per family. Checks can be sent to Casa de Amigos, 1101 E. Garden Lane. Toys for kindergarten through eighth-grade students are also being accepted for Friends of Hope.

Decorated Christmas trees are also being accepted for a silent auction on Dec. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Centennial library, 2503 W. Loop 250 N. The money raised will support Casa de Amigo’s programming, Motyka said.

The senior center meal will take place on Dec. 14, and Casa de Amigos needs help providing the food for the meal.

Finally, volunteers will be needed over Christmas break to help clean, organize and move things at Casa de Amigos’ facility. Motyka said students will be able to earn Legacy Hours though volunteering.

Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can contact Motyka at 682-9701.

Family Promise of Midland

Family Promise of Midland, which assists the homeless in the community, is accepting donations of clothing items, food and money, case manager Whitney Majors said. Donations can be delivered to the organization’s office at 2908 W. Ohio Ave. in Midland.

If you know of a volunteer or donation opportunity that the Reporter-Telegram missed, send the name of the organization, location, dates, times and any other pertinent information to news@mrt.com and this list will be updated.